Monday, September 9, 2019

Comfort Chinese at Cathay Palisades

French food is my comfort food, but for visitors from NYC who came to town, finding a spot worthy of two picky palates became a foodie challenge, especially when one of them is a working chef. Sadly few good options are on the westside of town, and not wanting to trek east on a week-end night, I remembered that I had tried take out from Cathay Palisades at a dinner party, so a quick text later, the restaurant welcomed us as friends of their regular customers (it always helps to be referred). We had enough people to try several things and I'm happy to say everything was fresh, flavorful, and we cleaned all the plates :)

The mushroom medley for $13.25 was served with steamed broccoli. It is great as a side dish or main for vegetarians, with a nice assortment of mushrooms in an oyster sauce.

The salt and pepper shrimp for $19 was a crowd favorite for nostalgic reasons, but although the shrimp were fine, I found it lacked anything to rave about.

Another group favorite were the garlic noodles, but again I found them good, but not outstanding.

One of my favorite dishes was the calamari with bok choy for $18.50, with perfectly cooked tender calamari and lightly stir fried bok choy that used only the tender baby bok choy.

My other favorite dish was the shrimp with snow pea pods for $18.50 which featured the high quality shrimp once again, but this time with the pea pods which had been painstakingly defibered so that every pod was tender and crunchy without any strings. The hallmark of any good food is the care and attention they take to ensure fresh quality ingredients, but the extra mile of proper preparation and technique add to the enjoyment of the diners who reap the benefits of taste and textures that make for happy eaters.

Everyone who came in was welcomed by name, so they obviously have a loyal regular base of customers who appreciate their food, as well as very efficient and friendly service. It was a pleasure to share the comfort of good Chinese food with friends, locally and from afar.

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About Me

Travel, food, friends & kindness are the joys of life. This is the place where I share the things that make my spirit smile. I do not get paid or fed, or otherwise compensated by any subject in my blog (any comped items are noted), so my reviews are not biased by bribes. I grew up in a restaurant, worked in restaurants, know how to cook & cater, and love to eat, so the posts about food here are all based on my personal taste for fresh, well seasoned, artfully prepared dishes. I have traveled to 20 countries and about 25 states, so I am always finding & sharing travel deals to further my travel adventures and yours. Shopping is my sport, so whenever I find a better price or place to shop, I will share it here. Your opinions are welcome, but ads for other sites or nasty comments are not; you can publish those on your own blog. I welcome feedback, so please leave comments on what I post or write to me at ElaineTravels(at)Gmail. If you would like to make me smile even more, look through my wishlist and surprise me with a gift, or donate to one of my favorite charities.
Je parle Français, alors bonjour à mes amis Francophones.

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Elaine Travels

I've learned the most from my travels around the world to countless cities and 20 countries. Check for reviews of places I've traveled to, eaten in, or visited, from Laguna Beach, CA to Paris, France and all places in between. My favorite place in the world is Motu Tapu (does anyone know where that is?), but that is only SO FAR. As I continue my education and evolve in my experiences you will read about them here. Sometimes it is the food, the culture, the history, or simply the kindness of strangers that has opened my eyes and spirit to how wonderfully connected we all are to each other. This is a place to share all the places, people, and things that bring smiles to a traveler's heart.